The Raising of America Partnership in Boulder County

Our Commitment

The Raising of America Partnership in Boulder County is committed to engaging the community in supporting families and young children.

The partnership works to prevent adverse childhood experiences that can lead to negative health outcomes. Investing in early childhood development pays off over the course of a child’s life.

Raising of America Documentary Series

The Raising of America series of documentaries address the need for all of our children to have a healthy start. This can lead to better outcomes and a healthier, safer, more prosperous, and equitable America.

Our Goal

The Raising of America Partnership works to strengthen and improve opportunities in Boulder County for families and their supporters where all concerns and ideas are heard. We are here to support families to create solutions that meet the need of all families in Boulder County.

Parent Concerns & Recommendations

In nine focus groups held in various locations in Boulder County in 2017, Boulder County families identified concerns that were most important. Participants then made recommendations about how to improve on these areas of concern.

Family Friendly Policies in the Workplace Are Good for Business

As a business, there is a lot you can do to create a more supportive environment for your staff by adopting family friendly policies. Small changes in your workplace mean a lot to the families that work for you.

Awareness & Training

Educate supervisors about the legal obligations that may impact decisions about the treatment of workers with caregiving responsibilities

Educate supervisors on breastfeeding-related policies

Educate all managers on the organization’s work-life policies to ensure compliance

Flexibility

Encourage employees to design flexible work arrangements that allow them to balance work and personal responsibilities

Offer flexible work options that are conducive to the company’s specific business operations and job roles

Provide reasonable personal or sick leave to allow employees to engage in care giving if not required to do so by the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)

Make certain flexible work options (such as work-from-home) a benefit and privilege for employees who are responsible, self-managed, and accountable

Set core work hours (e.g. 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or allow flexible schedules to begin anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and end anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Give supervisors and managers discretion to have conversations with employees regarding their schedules and work/life needs

Develop tools to help managers address flexible work needs, such as a request form, guides to implementing flexible work arrangements, and training.

If overtime is required, make it as family-friendly as possible

Provide appropriate technology to help employees do their work outside of the physical boundaries of the office.

Breastfeeding Arrangements

Create a written lactation policy for your workplace

Provide reasonable unpaid break time, or allow an employee to use paid break and/or meal time, to express breastmilk for a nursing child for up to two years after the child’s birth

Create a lactation space to provide a nursing mother with a private location in close proximity to her work area (other than a restroom) in which to express milk

Businesses can receive up to $1,000 in reimbursement for costs related to developing lactation spaces. This can include construction costs as well as furnishings. Visit www.BreastfeedBoulderCounty.org for more information